The NHS locally is doing more to help people with severe mental illnesses live long and healthy lives than in most other parts of the country.

Those with conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis and bi polar disorder die up to 20 years earlier than the rest of the population, much of this is due to preventable conditions including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness and diabetes.

As a result, clinicians are asked to carry out annual physical health checks to anyone on the Severe Mental Illness (SMI) register, and signpost them to appropriate support to help them live longer and healthier lives.

New figures show that clinicians in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have carried out these checks on 76 per cent of the target group – significantly higher than the target of 60 per cent, and the highest figure in the Midlands.

Only one other area of England had a higher rate – North West London, at 81 per cent.

There are more than 9,600 people eligible for one of these health checks in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The checks have six core components:

  • Alcohol consumption status
  • Blood glucose level (HbA1c)
  • Blood pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Lipid profile (cholesterol and triglyceride)
  • Smoking status.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s Mental Health Facilitator service has been designed to address inequalities by bringing together physical and mental healthcare within a single, person-centred appointment.

By bringing physical and mental healthcare together in one appointment, the service helps reduce fragmentation, improve patient engagement and ensure people receive more joined-up, person-centred care.

Rather than focusing solely on completing mandated checks, the team provide holistic support that helps identify early signs of deterioration, improve access to preventative care and connect people to wider health and wellbeing services.

Alongside routine monitoring such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking status and diabetes screening, MHFs provide integrated mental health reviews, care planning, medication support, risk assessments and referrals to wider wellbeing and community services.

LPT has a strong record of promoting the physical health of mental health patients. Our inpatient wards employ physical health nurses alongside their mental health colleagues, and GPs visit the wards to provide physical health care.

To read more about the physical health check statistics, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/physical-health-checks-for-people-with-severe-mental-illness-q4-2025-26 .

To read more on the checks themselves, go to: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/improving-the-physical-health-of-people-living-with-severe-mental-illness/ .